1969 Chevrolet C10 Project - And We’re Underway...

Last month I gave you guys a sneak peek of the next CCT project truck, a ’68 Chevy C10 longbed. At the time, the details were vague but the ideas clear as a spring day. A month on, and the details are starting to get ironed out as the parts start coming in for the build and the project itself gets underway.

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The first task to get tackled was to pull the stock rearend and send it off to Currie for some R&R. While that’s being done, I pulled out the stock suspension components and replaced ’em with Classic Performance Products’ Totally Tubular trailing arm and crossmember kit with 4-inch dropped springs.

That same week I was also able to pull the front suspension apart and install CPP’s Totally Tubular control arms, sway bar, and Big Brake Grand Slam kit. While I was under the front of the truck, I opted to install a power steering kit from CPP as well since my truck still had the original manual box.

From there, my attention was turned under the cab where I pulled the Saginaw 3-speed out in favor of a five-gear T5. The trans is just bolted into place now on the original bellhousing, but I’ll be using a McLeod clutch and pressure plate along with Hurst and Lokar products to complete the install.

The last thing I was able to sneak in this past week was to rebuild the door latches and window assemblies. I took the weekend to do the install, but it turned out to be fairly painless thanks to the fitment of the rubber and parts from LMC Truck and the wealth of information available, both in my print archives and on the internet.

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Not bad for the first week of what will likely become a perpetual project of sorts, being part magazine guinea pig and part daily driver. I’m sure being exposed to the daily abuse that Southern California traffic can dish out will expose many shortcomings on the old truck’s design and it will give us a chance to really put our advertisers parts to the test in a real-world setting. I’m looking forward to having some fun wrenching and driving and hopefully giving you guys a wealth of good tech in the meantime, and if there’s anything in particular that you’d like to see, drop me a line. I’m always open for suggestions.

Until then, keep your eyes peeled to these very pages as the aforementioned installs will all be appearing shortly, in addition to a number of surprises! CCT